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PowerChute Network Shutdown Used with a MasterSwitch to Loadshed

Issue:
How to configure PowerChute Network Shutdown Used with a MasterSwitch to Loadshed

Product:
PowerChute Network Shutdown

Environment:
All support OS

Solution:

PowerChute Network Shutdown works with MasterSwitch to provide graceful shutdown of servers powered by a UPS without turning off all loads attached to the UPS.

PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS) must be installed on the server that you want to gracefully shut down. The server must be plugged into an APC MasterSwitch outlet that is powered by an APC UPS that has a Network Management card installed to communicate with PowerChute Network Shutdown.

To gracefully shut down the server, either manually or as the result of a power event, use PCNS to configure a command file to run whenever the server shuts down. For information on how to run a command file using PCNS, see Configure Shutdown in the PowerChute Network Shutdown Help document that was included with the product.

Example Configuration

Install a Command Line SNMP Tool

See the table below to determine which tool to use.

Operating System

Tool Name

Where to Get It

Windows

ucd-snmp-x.x.x.win

http://net-snmp.sourceforge.net/

Linux

ucd-snmp-x.x.x.rpm

Any site which has Linux RPMs

Note: A different command-line SNMP tool may be used, but the command-line syntax may be different.

The syntax of command-line SNMP tool is as follows:

snmpset ms_ip private OID.Outlet i TurnOff

where:

snmpset is the name of the command to perform the SNMP set.

ms_ip is the IP address of the MasterSwitch powering the server.

private is the SNMP write community name.

OID is the SNMP object identifier that causes the outlet to turn off after a delay. See the table below to determine which OID to use.

If you have this product

Use this OID

MasterSwitch

.1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.4.4.2.1.3.

Switched Rack PDU

.1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.12.3.3.1.1.4.

MasterSwitch VM

.1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.5.5.1.1.5.

MasterSwitch Plus

.1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.6.5.1.1.5.

Outlet is the number of the outlet that powers the server that you want to shut down.

TurnOff is the number (the delay command) that indicates that the MasterSwitch should turn the outlet off after a delay. See the table below to determine which number to use for the delay command.

If you have this product

Use this delay command number

MasterSwitch

6

Switched Rack PDU

5

MasterSwitch VM

5

MasterSwitch Plus

6*

*MasterSwitch Plus only
- "Restart Delay"": Must be set to ""Remain Off".
- "Outlet Control Mode": Must be in "Graceful Shutdown" mode.
Configure the MasterSwitch with appropriate "Power Off Delays."

Note: For all MasterSwitch units, the "Power Off Delay" must be long enough to make sure that the servers have completed their shutdown, before the outlet turns off. The "Power Off Delay" is configurable using SNMP, Web or Telnet.

Example Windows Command File**:

The server is powered from outlet 2 of the 3rd switch connected to the MasterSwitch VM controller. The MasterSwitch VM's IP address is 159.215.6.143 and its SNMP write community name is private.

* *Please note that syntax may differ when using different versions of SNMPset.

Configure PCNS to Run the Command File

"Run this command file (full name)": Specify the full path, including the disk drive or volume name.

"The command file needs this much time to complete (seconds.)": In this case it is immediately, so set it to zero.

"Turn off the UPS after the shutdown finishes.": Uncheck this box.

The command file executes at the same time the server starts its shut down. The MasterSwitch turn off delay must be greater than the time it takes the server to shut down. Perform a test shutdown to determine how much time the server requires to shut down. Add a safety factor (approximately twice the server shutdown time) to the server shutdown time, and use this total for the MasterSwitch "Power Off Delay".

Notes on Command Files

Microsoft Windows OS

Save the command file with the .cmd extension

Include the full path, including the disk drive or volume name, to the command file. If the path includes spaces, use quotation marks.

Linux

The command file must be an executable file and must start with the following line: